I love reading but in between managing two small children, trying to keep on top of my freelance writing business and keeping up to date with the latest boxset viewing (currently catching up with House of Cards Series 3), there’s precious little time left. I often collapse into bed too tired to read at the end of each night.
In my recent post – Writing Goals for 2017, I said I wanted to read more and I’m determined to do it. Not only is it a great way to relax, but reading widely and regularly helps you to become a better writer too. So I’ve made a list of the books I want to read this year:
1. The Gift by Louise Jensen – I’m cheating with this one a bit as I downloaded it a week or so ago and and am already reading it. I chose it as it was was at the top of the Amazon charts and thought it looked like my kind of book – a fast paced thriller. It tells the story of Jenna who is given a new heart in a transplant. But after meeting the donor’s family she discovers some dark secrets. I’m already gripped and racing through this so that’s a good sign, plus you can’t go wrong for £1.99 on Kindle can you?!
2. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – This one has been recommended to me by several people who say that it is very moving. It has also won numerous awards. The story is about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastating consequences of World War II.
3. I See You by Claire Mackintosh – Another psychological thriller by Claire Mackintosh. I read Claire’s debut novel – I Let You Go last year and was gripped from start to finish so I’m looking to see if this is just as good. It tells the story of Zoe who sees her photo in the classified section of a London newspaper and tries to find out who put it there and why.
4. The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon- This Sunday Times best seller is set in a suburban cul-de-sac during the heatwave of 1976. When Mrs Creasy goes missing, ten year olds Grace and Tilly takes matters into their own hands and get more than they bargained for. It seems intriguing!
5. Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent – Billed as another Gone Girl, it tells the story of Lydia Fitzsimons who has a perfect husband and son and lives in a perfect house. There is just one thing Lydia needs to make her life complete though the last thing she expects is that pursuing it will lead to murder…..
6. Mad Girl by Bryony Gordon – This book , written by a successful Telegraph columnist is all about the author’s OCD. It tells of how Bryony first realised she had the condition and how she has coped throughout her life from teenager to now mother. It is billed as being shocking, funny and heart-wrenching and sounds like an interesting and insightful read!
7. Sisters 1,2,3 by Nancy Star – A tragic accident forces 3 sisters to hide a secret. But years later a whispered comment is overheard by one of the sister’s rebellious daughter. With the secret forced out into the open, the story focuses on how the family deals with the consequences. As the eldest of 3 sisters, this book appeals to me and I love the idea of how a family deal with a big secret.
8. Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton – One of the best books I read last year was Little Black Lies, a clever thriller with lots of twists and turns. I’d like to read more by this author. Daisy in chains tells the story of Hamish who is charming and charismatic but facing life in prison for murder. When he asks for lawyer Maggie Rosie to look at his case, she thinks she is immune from his charms……
9. The Ballroom by Anna Hope – Set in 1911 in an asylum close to the Yorkshire Moors, the men and women are kept separate except for once a week where they come together to dance in the ballroom. This story focuses on John and Ella whose lives are changed forever when they meet at one of these dances.
10. The Vets at Hope Green Part One Escape to The Country by Sheila Norton – I’ve got to include this one as it’s my mum’s new novel and I can’t wait to read it! Available from the 19th January, I’m looking forward to finding out more. Working as a receptionist in a London’s vet, Sam’s life is far from ideal. She’s constantly broke and her career is going nowhere. When her parents suggest visiting her nan in a small village, Sam thinks the rest could do her good. But rest and relaxation is not what she gets.
11. Mindfulness – Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams – This is the last one on my list and one that’s a bit different to the rest of the books! My sister bought me this for my birthday back in July. I started reading it but stopped when I realised that there were daily meditation exercises in here along with other tasks that required time and effort. It all seemed like too much trouble. But I picked this up again two weeks ago and have so far been managing to do the exercises as well as slowly making my way through the book. I’m determined to finish it as I think (hope?!) it could help to organise my chaotic mind. I’ll report back on what I think of the Mindfulness results later – that’s for another blog!
There you have it – my list for this year. You can probably tell that I enjoy reading a good thriller, but hopefully there’s enough of a mixture in here. Now I just need a vat of tea, some peace and quiet and to get on with reading!
Have you read any of these books? I’d love to know what you think of them. And if you have any recommendations, then do let me know and I can add them to this list!
Thanks for this list!
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You’re welcome – enjoy!
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Great list – (and thank you for including mine! Hope you enjoy it! x). I’ve read a couple of these – ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ was fabulous. ‘The Trouble with Goats and Sheep’ was different! And ‘Sisters One Two Three’ is on my to-read list too. Hope you’re going to review all these after you’ve read them?! 😉
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May review them if I ever get through them all!! Can’t wait to read yours!! X
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Excellent I will be referring back to this when I need new reading material!! I’d really like to start reading more too – I always seem to waste the evening watching rubbish on tv then end up in bed too late and tired to read much. Need to change! X
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Yeah, I’m making a conscious effort to start reading earlier in the evening rather than watching so much crap TV!! But the boxsets do tempt me!! Xx
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Good list, I’ve got Trouble with Goats and Sheep on my wishlist, I’ve also downloaded Frazzled by Ruby Wax – to understand my brain! #KCACOLS
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Thanks hope you enjoyed Trouble with Goats?!
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Oh no, now I even more to add to my ever expanding list. Love the sound of all the thrillers. I really want to read more this year too and never seem to find the time. I’m doing quite well this month though x
#KCACOLS
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Yes I’ve just finished the first book on my list which is good going for me two weeks into January! Need to keep it up now! X
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It’s so true, my “I’ll read this next” pile has grown to epic proportions, shunned often in favour of TV or (more likely) bed! Think I may join you on your mission to read more this year! #bigpinklink
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Glad it’s not just me! Join me and let’s see how far we get!
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Great list, with some really interesting ones on here. There are a couple I’d like to read. I’ve got and read and reread the last one, amazing book…hope you find it useful. #bigpinklink
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Did you manage to keep up with all the exercises in the last one? I’m finding it quite helpful but have to make a huge effort to do the exercises every single day!
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Hmm i dont think i did first of all, I read it through first with no pressure to do the daily meditations then certainly did them for a period of time for certain reasons (i used them pre birth for example)…it’s something i come back to every now and then. Good luck!
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Sounds like a plan. Thanks!
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I literally read 14 books last year, this year I need to read more. I want to. It looks like you have similar tastes in books to me and I think I will have to read some of picks myself too. If you are reviewing any I would love to read them #bigpinklink
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Also I’m just popping back to give you your co-host comment from #KCACOLS and while I’m here I’m adding these to my to read list on my kindle! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
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Thanks! Let me know how you get on with the books!
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No idea how many I read last year but probably less than you! Just finished the first one on my list so need to keep it going now! I may well review if I ever get to the end!
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Some of these books sound great. I’m going to bookmark this post for when I finish my current book! Thanks for sharing xx #KCACOLS
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Thanks and let me know how you get on if you do read any of them! X
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I need to find time to read. I was a total book worm before children, now I never find time. You mums book really caught my eye, before I even read it was hers! It looks and sounds right up my street!
#bigpinklink
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Yes, I’m the same. Kids get in the way don’t they!!! Mum’s book is out on Thursday on Kindle and is the first part of a series of 3. They’ll all be available in paperback later on in the year. X
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Fab, I’ll definitely be having a read x
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I love reading, I’m going to get to work on some of the books on this list! #bigpinklink
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Good luck, let me know how you get on!!
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Your mum has a book out?! Well that’s very exciting!! That’ll be lovely for you to read! The Ballroom, I See You and The Gift also really stood out to me-I’ll add those to my list!! I know I’ve been banging on about the Cormoran Strike novels all over the place (JK Rowling writing under her pseudonym of Robert Galbraith,) but they are un-putdownable!!! Brilliant if you do love a good thriller!
#bigpinklink
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Yes she’s had quite a few but it’s always exciting to read a new one! I’ve just finished The Gift which was good and compelling! I’ve not read any by JK / Robert Galbraith. I’ll have to add that to the list as I do love a thriller. Thanks for the recommendation! X
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Having read about two books a week, I haven’t read anything really since baby was born. Really want to read Mad Girl and Lying in Wait – though might find the latter a bit scary at night 😉 #bigpinklink
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Seems to be a common theme (and a good excuse!) good luck with those, that both look good!
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If I want to write, I know I need to read more. Love these recommendations and I’m going to pick up a couple on my way to work tomorrow. Thanks #KCACOLS
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Hope you enjoy them!
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One of my New Years resolutions is to read at least one book a month. Coincidentally I’ve just bought Mad girl and the goats and sheep one! Not sure which to read next as I’m excited to read them both!
#KCACOLS
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That’s funny! Both look great. I’ve just finished The Gift, not sure what to pick next, maybe the sisters one!
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I love your list. There are a few on there are on my list too – The Ballroom and I See You.
I’m aiming to read 50 books this year so need to get going x
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50?! Wow! I’ll be happy to get to 15! X
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lying in wait seems really interesting, I love such book. great book list #coolmumclub
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Yes, I’m looking forward to that one too! Thanks.
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Some fab reading inspo here hon I want to read a few of these too….do you know there is book coming out specifically on mindfulness for parents? Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xoxo
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Thanks! No I didn’t know that, but sounds good and will probably be a best seller as I know so many mums trying to sort out their frazzled brains! Thanks for hosting. X
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I was only saying yesterday how I really felt let down by my reading material last year and was in need of some inspiration – some great ideas here and some authors I don’t know so thanks. #coolmumclub
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You’re welcome hope they inspire you!
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